It's official: Asif tested positive for doping

New Delhi: Delhi Daredevil's Pakistan import Mohammad Asif tested positive in the drug tests conducted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the Indian Premier League confirmed on Monday.

It is an offence punishable by upto two years' ban on playing international cricket.

Earlier, the name of the tainted cricketer was not disclosed but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sources revealed to CNN-IBN that Asif is the player that flunked the drugs test. The reports were later confirmed when the IPL released an official statement on the issue.

THE DOPE TRAIL: Asif is one of the five cricketers who tested for banned substances during IPL. (IBN)

According to an IPL release, the "DLF Indian Premier League compared the result from the WADA-approved laboratory in Switzerland with the data collected by IDTM, the Sweden-based independent agency which organized the anti-doping testing in accordance with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards, to confirm the player in violation is Mr. Mohammad Asif".

"It was also checked if Mr Md. Asif had applied for and was granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). It was found that Mr. Md. Asif had not applied for a TUE. A note in writing has been sent to the player and his home board and to the franchisee on the findings," the release added. The TUE refers to exceptional circumstances where an athlete has used the certain drug, with a approval of the WADA.

The release also added that Asif has been informed that his urine sample had tested positive. He has the right to request that the B Sample (supplied by him at the same time as the A Sample which tested positive) be analysed.

The release also says that in the even he asks for the B Sample to be tested, he he and his representative, along with an IPL representative, will have the right to attend the opening and analysis.

The release also says that once the results of the B Sample are received, it will be referred to the IPL Drug Tribunal, which consists of Dr Ravi Bapat, Sunil Gavaskar and Shirish Gupte, a leading lawyer.

The Tribunal will in due course follow the procedure as laid down in the Anti-Doping policy, the release added.

Asif has denied that he used banned substance and said the allegation has shocked him. "I am shocked and surprised because I was extra cautious and never used any banned substances. I don't know what to do. I will decide the next course of action only after consultation with the PCB," he told AFP.

On Sunday, news broke that a cricketer had tested positive for drugs in the random tests conducted during the inaugural season of the IPL

that ended on June 1, which was later confirmed by the IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi.

The IPL had sprang into action when reports from Pakistan suggested that fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was found carrying syringes in bulk on his way to India to participate in the competition to play for Kolkata Knight Riders. Organisers promptly announced random dope tests a month into the tournament.

PAGE_BREAK

Asif, who along with Shoaib were ejected from the 2006 Champions Trophy after testing positive for a banned substance, was later detained at the Dubai airport for 19 days for alleged possession of opium while he was returning from India en route to Pakistan. Asif had played a pivotal part in Delhi's run to the semi-finals of the inaugural competition.

Asif was released by the authorities in Dubai, but a PCB-appointed tribunal will soon begin its own inquiry into the matter.

WADA officials had taken random samples during the tournament, and it has confirmed that one player failed the test.

Modi on Sunday confirmed that there was indeed a positive dope test.

"We have been conveyed by WADA. One player has tested positive, according to random tests conducted by a Swiss lab. We do not know who he is."

Fourteen players were tested in all during the tests which got underway one month after the IPL began.